The UK Travel Insurance Renewal Report 2026
How annual travel insurance renewals, claims trends and review timing affect what travellers pay before the next policy year begins.
What the data shows
Claims paid in 2024
Total claims paid
£472m
The ABI says its members paid out £472 million across more than 500,000 travel insurance claims in 2024.
Source: ABI, 2024
Claims volume
Claims paid
500,000+
The ABI says more than 500,000 travel insurance claims were paid in 2024.
Source: ABI, 2024
Medical claims share
Most common claim type
34%
The ABI says medical expenses were the most common reason for a travel insurance claim in 2024 and made up 34% of all claims.
Source: ABI, 2024
Medical claims value
Total medical claims
£262m
The ABI says the total value of medical claims in 2024 reached £262 million.
Source: ABI, 2024
Average medical payout
Per-claim average
£1,528
The ABI says the average payout for a medical claim in 2024 was £1,528.
Source: ABI, 2024
What is happening in annual travel insurance renewals
Annual travel insurance can look easy to leave alone because it is designed to keep cover in place across multiple trips.
That is useful, but it also creates the usual renewal pattern: the policy continues, the year rolls on, and the review is easy to delay. Which? says annual travel insurance can auto-renew and save people from forgetting to buy cover for future trips, but also says people should compare the renewal quote before accepting it.
This makes annual travel insurance a clear Onremind category. The product is useful precisely because it is easy to forget. That is also the risk.
Why travel insurance renewal still needs reviewing
Travel insurance does more than protect you when you are already abroad. Which? says buying cover early can protect you against cancellations before you travel, while buying too late can leave you with fewer options and less protection.
That is why renewal still matters. A policy that quietly continues may no longer match your destination, trip frequency, trip length or medical circumstances. The FCA's 2025 review of home and travel claims handling also found examples of good practice but many areas where firms needed to improve, especially around claims handling and oversight.
So the travel insurance renewal decision is not just whether to stay covered. It is whether the policy still fits the trips you are taking and the cover you might actually need.
What travellers should check before renewal
Check whether annual cover still makes sense
If you no longer take multiple trips each year, an annual policy may no longer be the right fit.
Check destination and trip length limits
Annual policies can still include restrictions on where you can go and how long each trip can be.
Check medical declarations
Pre-existing conditions and health changes need careful checking before the next policy year begins.
Check cancellation protection
Travel insurance protects against issues before travel too, so cover timing matters.
Review before the annual policy rolls over
The benefit of auto-renew is convenience. The risk is that the review never happens.
Related pages
Travel insurance renewal reminders
How Onremind protects you before the travel insurance renewal date.
What to check before travel insurance renewal
Practical guidance on what to check before renewal.
FCA expands travel insurance work: what it means before renewal
Latest developments relevant to travel insurance renewal.
All insurance renewal reminders
See all insurance categories protected by Onremind.
Sources
- Association of British Insurers, travel insurance claims data for 2024
- Financial Conduct Authority, home and travel claims handling review, 2025
- Financial Conduct Authority, December 2025 statement on expanding home and travel insurance work
- Which?, annual travel insurance and timing guidance